Tom Cowan, Partner, Knobbe Martens

Partner at Knobbe Martens (intellectual property and technology law firm). Chair of the firm's Mechanical Engineering Practice Group. Focus on patents, trade secrets, and tech transactions in mechanical, aerospace and medical device technologies. Support financing and M&A activity with IP diligence. Prosecuted patents and conducted diligence in deals cumulatively valued at over $700M (since 2019). Former aerospace engineer at Northrop Grumman and NASA. Degrees in law (JD), aerospace engineering (BS), and biomedical engineering (MS).

James has previously lived and worked as a U.S. patent lawyer in Europe for an Italian firm, where he focused on worldwide patent procurement and portfolio development. Prior to entering intellectual property law, James was employed as an electrical engineer for a major brushless DC disk drive motor manufacturer.

Will Cottrell, Licensing Executive, RTX Corporation

I launch proven technology into new markets. By teaming with some of the best technologists, innovators and intellectual property professionals, I lead captures that are able unlock new margin and growth opportunities outside of our primary market.

I'm a strategic and technology-savvy licensing professional, focused on building a transformative and robust technology-licensing program at one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world. I bring leadership skills and 20+ years of cross-functional experience to get results with licensing partners from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.